Military Official Allegedly Cautioned Ravens’ John Harbaugh About Signing Colin Kaepernick

When Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh was deliberating whether to sign Colin Kaepernick before the 2017 season, he allegedly sought advice from a high-ranking military official, among others.

Ravens’ John Harbaugh considered signing Kaepernick news

Harbaugh — who has spoken positively about the free-agent quarterback — was not explicitly told by the official in question not to sign Kaepernick. However, the military man reportedly recommended that if the Ravens signed him, that they should establish “a set of specific guidelines he needed to follow if he wanted to keep his job,” as TMZ Sports reported.

Baltimore considered adding Kaepernick to their roster last summer after Joe Flacco suffered an injury.

However, former Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis said on Showtime’s Inside the NFL that a tweet by Kaepernick’s girlfriend, radio personality Nessa, changed the team’s mind on signing him.

Nessa’s Aug. 2 tweet depicted Lewis as Samuel L. Jackson’s house slave character from Quentin Tarantino’s 2012 film Django Unchained. In the photo, Ravens owner Steve Biscotti was photoshopped to look like Leonardo DiCaprio’s slave owner character in the same movie, whom Jackson’s loyal character was shown hugging.

Kaepernick has been shunned by NFL team owners since he began protesting the national anthem before each game since Aug. 2016 to make a statement about racial inequality in the United States. The former San Francisco 49ers quarterback filed a grievance late last year accusing all 32 owners of collusion, and protests were even held outside the league’s headquarters in New York.

“We were talking about giving this kid an opportunity to get back in the National Football League,” Ray Lewis said of Kaepernick on Inside the NFL. “I have been fighting for this kid behind the table like nobody has.”

Lewis was regarded as a hypocrite by many in the NFL community after he criticized Kapernick’s protests, but then knelt for the anthem at one point last season.

The Dallas Cowboys’ Jerry Jones remains the only NFL owner who has explicitly told his players he would bench them should they kneel for the anthem.

In the 2016 season, Kaepernick threw for 2,241 yards and 16 touchdowns against four interceptions with the 49ers. Since being released from the team, Kaepernick has won several honors for his humanitarian efforts.

BUFFALO, NY – OCTOBER 16: Colin Kaepernick #7 of the San Francisco 49ers looks to throw against the Buffalo Bills during the first half at New Era Field on October 16, 2016 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)